Preparing for Winter

sb44

paulwf wrote: »

If people are sensible and have walking boots with a reasonable tread rather than Ugg boots there isn't really any need for ice spikes. Spikes are only really useful on sheet ice and generally there isn't much of that around.

Well there is certainly a lot of it around where we live when the snow starts to thaw and then the temp drops again. Our street and adjoining streets are a death trap as we are on a slight incline, walking to and from school is a bit dicey.

I think I may well think about buying some ice grips as I lost my footing a few times last year and that was wearing brand new Dunlop wellies with quite a deep tread.

Gigervamp

Same here sb44. The ice was inches thick here and even sensible shoes and boots were no better at gripping. Hmm...maybe stillettos would have worked though! Not that I've got any mind you. :rotfl:

gailey_2

well thanks to this post I been carboot and got

short uggs 50p
long uggs 30p

would love real ones as wear the sides down on cheapies but pennies dont allow

wellies 70p
winter parka with fur trim hood 1pound
fingerless gloves 50p

thermal top 50p
barnd new flannel pjs 50p-most of my pjs looking worse for wear badly faded and holes in so need to replace and bin.

so 4quid spent on winter today

Need to make comprehensive list and ensure we all got essentials to keep warm.

Feeling stupidly exited about being so organised hubby thinks I lost the plot.

Dustykitten

Love this thread. I too saw today that food prices could be high by winter due to the dry summer affecting the grain crop.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7919406/Food-inflation-could-go-beyond-10pc-before-next-year.html

I've been making jam this year and have learnt to make spelt bread (for me) so next I'll try white bread for the kids.

Our milkman was fantastic and never dropped a day in the snow. We can order online now too so that I'll be a way to get juice/butter etc but it is more expensive.

We had a Sainsbury delivery in the snow last year and the driver was a Slovak so had not problems driving on a few inches of snow!

I need to:
Look into loft insulation
Try on the kids snowboots and winter coats (need to wait a couple of months with the rate they grow)
Make a draft excluder for the front door - I have the stuff so I might do that next.
Sort out the food cupboard and freezer - I'll do this once they are back at school
Make new hottie covers

We have more logs/kindling than ever stashed away so that should help a bit with the bills.

lauren_1

paulwf wrote: »

If people are sensible and have walking boots with a reasonable tread rather than Ugg boots there isn't really any need for ice spikes. Spikes are only really useful on sheet ice and generally there isn't much of that around. I lived in Sweden for 2 years with very long winters and hardly anyone bothered with spikes. On the other hand they weren't walking in heels or Uggs, it was quite funny last winter to see people walking around in Uggs

I found that the snow ends up getting compacted between the tread on my DM's and in the end was no better than my fake uggs. I found my boots with little kitten heels were the only way i could stop slipping or golf shoes!

parsonswife8

Just bought this pattern online for a pound. It's for the snood and the scarf.



I could scan it onto this thread once I have received it if anyone wants it.

Sunnyday

parsonswife8 wrote: »

Just bought this pattern online for a pound. It's for the snood and the scarf.



I could scan it onto this thread once I have recieved it if anyone wants it.

Aw that looks nice, wish i could knit!

SD

flipperOSN

Ooh, some good tips here that make me realise there's a lot more I could be doing. I think adding one extra thing to the weekly shop e.g. 4 pack of toms etc. should help me on my way. Now to find some space to put it.

Salt is definitely a good one! I live in the city but the council was doing reduced gritting trips and my road got nothing. I'm about halfway up a hill and boy was it treacherous, so even if there was stock in the supermarkets I'd be happy not to have to go! Sadly no-one but me will drink UHT in this house, I actually really like it!

Barneysmom

parsonswife8 wrote: »

Just bought this pattern online for a pound. It's for the snood and the scarf.



I could scan it onto this thread once I have received it if anyone wants it.

That would be brilliant, thank you

Princess_kate

Oh I do love this thread! Im gettin prepared for winter slowly. Not too much to do. Got bread flour, yeast, dried milk, and UHT milk in. Need to build up my pasta stocks but lots of food in all the time so if I couldnt get out we would be ok! Still havent been brave enough to get any grit out of the bin at the end of the road....I have my bucket at the ready tho, incase I decide to wander down when its dark!!

I do want to make curtains for the front & back door. Nothing fancy, got 4 metres of lining in dunelm for £4, 2 fleeces in asda for £3, now I just need something pretty for the front, seen nice material in dunelm but at £10 a metre & im going to need about 5 it seems a lot. Might have a look for a cheap pair of curtains, tack them all together, pop them on a net curtain wire, ta da!! Hall was very chilly last winter, only moved into the house in January tho, on the 9th, in al the snow!! That was interesting.....

Got lots of gloves/scarves ect, amazing electric blanket for the bed & soooo many blankets for cwtching up on the sofa!! Something I will stock up on before winter in cat litter, had trouble getting any last year, for my cat! Everyone was using it as grit!! Poor Tigger!!

Think we'll be ok but I do love winter & the preparations! Kepp the tips coming guys!!

*sneeks back to lurking!!*

Kate